Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

One of the men arrested in the November 17 drug bust in Bradford waived his preliminary today. 49-year-old Donald “Unc” Gadley sold crack cocaine to confidential informants with the McKean County Drug Task Force in July in a parking lot behind the Terminal Building and in August at an apartment on Main Street, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone's office. Gadley remains in McKean County Jail on bail. Five other people arrested in the same drug bust were scheduled for hearings today, but they were continued. http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/learn-wednesday-drug-busts-largest.html

Several people are in custody after incidents early this afternoon on Congress, Kane and Pine streets and at the Hotel Holley (formerly the Riddell House). The Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team, the McKean County Sheriff’s office and other police agencies were on the scenes. Neighbors on Congress Street tell us it was a drug bust, although we have not confirmed that with city police yet. McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn tells us he'll release information this evening.

Three Bradford residents are in jail after a drug bust last night in the city. Jennifer Heitzinger and Keith Murphy, both of 20 Rochester Street, have been charged with conspiracy to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and were sent to McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. Randall Wayne Smith of Congress Street is in jail on $25,000 bail. According to papers filed in District Judge Rich Luther's office, Heitzinger and Murphy conspired to sell crack cocaine to Smith on Congress Street. Murphy was also wanted on a warrant from New York dated February 6. Members of the Bradford Police Emergency Response Team took him into custody based on the warrant. While in the residence, they found marijuana seeds and various pieces of drug paraphernalia, including scales. Smith also allegedly sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant from the McKean County Drug Task Force on Chestnut Street. All three are scheduled for hearings February 25 in front of District Judge Dom Cercone.

Bradford City Police have arrested three people after finding a large amount of prescription medication, heroin and marijuana at a Pike Street home. Police executed a search warrant early this morning and found the drugs, paraphernalia and a large amount of tobacco cigarettes that had been stolen from a warehouse in Salamanca. Toni Taylor has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance Phillip Haight has been charged with possession of marijuana. Vincent Santiago has been charged with possession of a controlled substance. All three have also been charged with possession of paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. The Bradford City Street Crimes Unit, Bradford City Emergency Response Team, Bradford Township Police and University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Police executed the search warrant. The Salamanca Police Department is assisting in the investigation into the stolen cigarettes.

One of Tom Riel's campaign promises when he was running for mayor was that he would make positive changes to the City of Bradford Police Department. In a speech Tuesday afternoon during a joint meeting of the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, Riel said one of the first things he did after being sworn in as mayor was to make good on that pledge. He said when he named Mike Close as the new chief "reforming the City of Bradford Police Department began." "The publicly requested beat cop was walking the streets the next day," Riel said. "Chief Close dove in head first and was hard at work making the changes the city and police department needed." The department now has the Emergency Response Team and Street Crimes Unit, which were equipped, armed, trained and have specialized vehicles all at no cost to the city. Riel said Microtech, American Refining Group and Zippo were "more than generous" in their support. "The officers themselves were very giving...

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold its 26th annual LEAF (Law Enforcement Awareness and Familiarization) Day Wednesday, Sept. 17. LEAF Day is designed to inform community members about services provided by various law enforcement and regulatory agencies as well as help students discover the aspects of a possible career in these fields. The event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Frame-Westerberg Commons, is free and open to the public. According to Dan Songer, director of campus police and safety, nearly 22 agencies will be represented in this year’s program, including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Air Marshal Service, FBI, Federal Correctional Institution – McKean, Secret Service, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, New York State Park Police, New York State Police, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; Pennsylvania State Police, State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc....

Three Buffalo residents are in McKean County Jail after a drug bust at the Best Western Bradford Inn. Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team, Bradford City Street Crimes Unit, McKean County Drug Task Force and Foster and Bradford township police executed the search warrant on room 108 at the motel after confidential informants bought crack cocaine in the room twice. Officers with the emergency response team had to force their way into the room through a window because the suspects dead-bolted the steel exterior door. Once inside officers located money, crack cocaine packaged for sale, marijuana and digital scales. Thomas Charles Patton III, Kesha Burney and Sophia Patton were all charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver and sent to jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail each.

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director McKean County District attorney John Pavlock says he hopes the arrests of 14 people this week on drug charges sends a message. "I hope it puts a dent in the drug trade," Pavlock told WESB/WBRR on Thursday afternoon. "Of course I know it's not going to stop the drug trade. I wish it would, but I'm not that naïve." "But it should make people out there who are selling drugs and peddling the stuff nervous that we are doing what we can, that there's cooperation here to address the problem and that resulted in the activity that occurred (Thursday)," Pavlock said. Pavlock said the arrests of three people Tuesday and 11 people Thursday were the result of a months-long investigation by a number of officers in the McKean County Drug Task Force. Pavlock said the county administers the program "but individual officers work overtime on it – officers from departments all throughout the county and they really work...

Six people have been arraigned so far today following a drug sweep in Bradford by the Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team and McKean County Drug Task Force. Among the people arraigned are 42-year-old Thomas Barnes of East Main Street who is accused of selling dihydrocodeinone pills to a confidential informant on May 16 and June 13; 32-year-old Mitchell Gross of Rockland Avenue who is accused of selling Ridalin pills to a confidential informant on May 9; 19-year-old Shandon Langianese of Constitution Avenue who is accused of selling marijuana to a confidential informant on June 9; 24-year-old Richard Griesbuam and 21-year-old David McGarry of Jackson Avenue who are accused of selling marijuana to a confidential informant on March 25; and 30-year-old Harley Sellers of Chautauqua Place who is accused of selling dihydrocodeinone pills to a confidential informant on March 19 and crack cocaine on January 18. Also arrested Thursday were 19-year-old Jacquelyn Horton of Kiwanis Court, ...

It is great to hear that the drug problems (DEALERS) in this area are being dealt with. Hats off to all the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to get these dirt bags off the streets. When they go to trial lets hear "NO DEAL" from the DA.Give them the max. and let it be a lesson to others who will try to take their places. Bart G.

Three women have been arrested on drug charges after a search of a Chautauqua Place home by the Bradford City Street Crimes Unit, Bradford City Police Emergency Response Team and McKean County Drug Task Force. On Tuesday, members of the task force and street crimes unit conducted a controlled substance purchase of marijuana and cocaine from Tyanna Hamilton at 17 Chautauqua Place. After the purchase, they got a search warrant for the home and found large amounts of marijuana and cocaine as well as about $1,700 in cash. Hamilton was charged with delivery and possession of cocaine and marijuana and sent to McKean County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. Natasha Skaggs was also charged with delivery and possession and sent to jail on $20,000 bail. Annice Gilbert was charged with conspiracy to posses with intent to deliver and sent to jail on $45, 000 bail. Children and Youth Services was also contacted and helped officers remove and place a young girl who was inside the home.